51NFBPWC MAGAZINE—JANUARY 2026Member InvolvementWork on the development of a Membership brochure is nearly complete. The committee that developed this brochure includes Nancy Werner, Barbara Jean Maresca, and Ginny Bailey. It will be used to assist us in our membership recruitment efforts and will be available in the near future.I am pleased to report that member Cathy Collins attended the NFBPWC Membership meeting on December 15, 2025, and the NFBPWC Advocacy meeting on December 11, 2025. Member’s Committee ParticipationOur members have been active on various committees. Nancy Werner serves as NFBPWC Public Relations Chair and serves on the NFBPWC Advocacy Committee. Additionally, Nancy has been involved with the development of the NFBPWC L3 program and serves on the that committee, attending their meetings on a regular basis.Nicole Sedon serves as NFBPWC Military Affiliated Women Chair. Cathy Collins, Nancy Werner, Barbara Jean Maresca, and Denise Stepanik, serve on the NFBPWC Membership Committee. Denice Robinson is serving on the NFBPWC Health Committee. Lilly Gioia, PA Affiliate Chapter Legislation/Advocacy Chair, continues to provide members with the latest legislation information.Denise Stepanik has been appointed to serve on the BPW International Business, Trade, and Technology Committee.Cathy Collins serves as the Chair of the NFBPWC Awards Task Force. Also on the Task Force is Emily Holgash (PA Affiliate Chapter).We continue to provide information on our Facebook page, thanks to members Ginny Bailey, Emily Holgash, and Amanda Collier, who do research and place information on this page. Please check out our Facebook page at NFBPWC -Pennsylvania.Members are encouraged to review the NFBPWC Website and monthly newsletter and to take advantage of the great programs we offer. The International BPW Newsletter is also available.Future Meetings• PA Affiliate meeting January 18, 2026, at 7:00 pm via zoom: Nancy Werner (PA) and Kathy Kelly (CO) will present the first L3 module on the History of BPW• PA Affiliate meeting February 15, 2026, at 7:00 pm via zoom: Nancy Werner and Barbara Davis (CA) will share an L3 module on “Advocacy 101”• PA Affiliate meeting March 30, 2026, at 7:00 pm via zoom: Women’s History Month Recognition. Robin Young, known as “The Marker Lady” for her work in installing historical markers in Pennsylvania, and the author of “Women’s Suffrage in Pennsylvania 1840-1900, is the guest speaker. • PA Affiliate meeting April 2026 tbd: Member Amanda Collier will present a program on Health and Balance.PA Executive Committee 2025-2026Catherine (Cathy) Collins PresidentDr. Ella McElwee Vice-PresidentNancy Werner Recording SecretaryDenice Robinson TreasurerTeresa Miller, Esq. ParliamentarianCommittee ChairsLilly Gioia Legislation/AdvocacyNancy Werner Membership, ERA, PRNicole Sedon Military AffairsGinny Bailey Facebook/Media ChairCathy CollinsPresident, PAPennsylvania Affiliate
52NFBPWC MAGAZINE—JANUARY 2026According to Josie Cox, author of “Women Money Power: The Rise and Fall of Economic Equality, in the 11/29/24 issue of Bloomberg Businessweek,“ AI’s early adopters are disproportionately men, a disconnect that could exacerbate the gender pay gap,” A July Federal Reserve Bank of New York consumer survey found the existence of “an economically and statistically significant AI gender gap. In the early days, the internet was dominated by men. More recently, research shows that women are significantly less likely than their male counterparts to use financial technology – or fintech – products. But the generative AI gap is noteworthy because of the extent to which this particular technology is already radically and rapidly transforming the labor market. A Goldman Sachs forecast predicts that AI could automate up to the equivalent of 300M fulltime jobs globally over 10 years. Analysis of self-reported data collected by economists at the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) indicates that the AI gender gap may be explained by varying levels of trust in technology. “Women are generally more concerned about the negative consequences of sharing data,\" while men “see greater benefits for their job opportunities and lower risks from the use of gen AI” Sander van’t Noordende, CEO of the world’s largest employment agency Randstad, told Bloomberg Businessweek, “The way technology is today you can’t afford to check out. Pay should be based on productivity. And AI – simply put – is a productivity booster.” The jobs most likely to be disrupted, or even rendered redundant, by generative AI are also the jobs disproportionately held by women. Analysis done last year by the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School found that eight out of 10 women, or about 59M individuals in the US workforce are in occupations that are “highly exposed to generative AI automation, compared to about six out of 10 men.” Top of the list of exposed jobs are office and administrative support roles. According to the UNC analysis, “As the saying goes, you won’t be replaced by AI You will be replaced by someone who knows AI” So, empowering women with digital literacy could be an excellent way of closing the gender-related AI gap. Heather McCulloch, a senior fellow at the Aspen Institute, said the issue is that learning takes time, “and time is not something that many women have in abundance…the truth is, regardless of gender, gen AI can be a massive tool for economic mobility…I just hope that women recognize that. The potential is too big to ignore.” At the end of November, a Deloitte report found the percentage of women using or experimenting with generative AI had tripled in 2024 from the prior year, compared to a 2.2 percent increase for men. This helped narrow the gender gap. Deloitte’s authors predicted that despite the persistent generative AI gender divide, women are poised to eclipse men in its use as early as next year in some countries.For more information about the PA Affiliate, go to: https://www.nfbpwc.org/PennsylvaniaConnect on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/671796126783219Pennsylvania Advocacy: Why Women are Less Likely to Use AILilly GioiaAdvocacyIf you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it. Margaret Fuller
53NFBPWC MAGAZINE—JANUARY 2026January isn’t about pressure. It’s about possibility. As we move into this new year, we invite you to • Stay Engaged• Stay Curious• Stay ConnectedWe will continue to connect one conversation, one meeting, and one shared commitment at a time locally, unite nationally, and ignite locally –TOGETHER. January always brings a sense of reset, not just a new page on the calendar, but an opportunity to recommit to what matters most. For the Virtual Club, our theme of Connecting Locally. Uniting Nationally. Igniting Globally. isn’t abstract. It’s lived out every time members from different states, time zones, and backgrounds come together to learn, lead, and support one another. Distance doesn’t dilute our impact: it strengthens it. An Important Update on DuesEffective January 1, our annual dues have increased to $100 per year. The increase will be reflected when you pay your dues in 2026. This change reflects the rising cost of operations and the continued investment in the programs, technology, and support that allow the Virtual Club and NFBPWC to function effectively. When you pay your dues, you are: • Supporting access to leadership opportunities and advocacy work• Ensuring continuity of meetings, communications, and resources• Investing in a network that connects women across professions, regions, and stages of life.Most importantly, you are affirming that this community matters to you. Your continued membership helps ensure that this space remains open, welcoming, and strong, not just for you, but for women who haven’t found it yet. Join us for the next Virtual Club meeting on January 19th via Zoom (8pm Eastern). Barbara J. BozemanPresidentNFBPWC Virtual2023-2026Texas BPW/Paso del Norte: Meetings on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 11:00 am Central Time at the members’ homes or La Madeleine Restaurant.For more information about this club, go to: https://www.nfbpwc.org/TexasConnect on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BPW-Paso-del-Norte100066796539721/Leadership TeamMargarita Arriola PresidentNFBPWC Virtual Club: A New Year of Connection, Commitment, and Momentum
54NFBPWC MAGAZINE—JANUARY 2026WashingtonLeadership TeamBonnie O’Leary PresidentJaqueline Petrick-Lee Vice PresidentJudy Keyt Recording SecretaryNaira Harutyunyan TreasurerRosalind Scott Immediate Past PresidentFor more information about this club, go to: https://www.nfbpwc.org/WashingtonConnect on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/BPW.WA/Virtual Club Secretary Angie Jackson-Wilson (2nd from left) and Virtual Club Member Melanie Rawls (2nd from right) accept the 2025 NonProfit of the Year Award from the Northeast Louisiana Regional Chamber of Commerce (NLRCC) on behalf of their local BPW, Monroe West Monroe. Also pictured: NLRCC Executive Director Kenya Roberson (far left), and NLRCC Board President, Herb Guillory (far right).BPW Proud: Virtual Club Members in the SpotlightI want women to be allowed to be weak and strong and happy and sad—human, basically.Natalie PortmanPatricia FarmerBarbara YongMa’at LathamTrish KnightCharmin Jacobs Frieda Same NdoumbeVirtual Club Members Celebrating Birthdays in
55NFBPWC MAGAZINE—JANUARY 2026As an example, if you wished to advertise in the March Magazine, you would have to send your submission and payment on or before the Friday that falls two (2) weeks prior to the end of February. In 2025 that date would have been February 14th.What to do:1. Submit your digital image to the Executive Committee as an attachment to: [email protected] requirements: High resolution static images in JPG or PNG format.2. Submit the appropriate payment amount through Zelle, Venmo, or PayPal to: [email protected] pricing schedule below.You can submit a check, but this may cause a delay as no advertising will be approved until payment is received. Make checks payable to NFBPWC and mail to Dr. Jo Naylor, NFBPWC Treasurer, 392 Springhouse Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406-1820.If you are paying by check, we suggest that you email the Treasurer and copy Lisa Dicksteen, the Magazine Editor, so they can coordinate the process.You will receive a response from the Executive Committee after they have reviewed your submission. If your submission is accepted, the Executive Committee will forward your submission to the Magazine Editor for publication in the next month’s newsletter.
56NFBPWC MAGAZINE—JANUARY 2026I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe thathappy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles. Audrey Hepburn Photo by Lisa Dicksteen